Expulsion Excerpts

Armodoxy For today, expulsion Sunday

This Sunday of Lent is called expulsion Sunday. When looking at the Gospel passage prescribed to us by the Church Fathers, we understand that we are being called to a more mature understanding of our faith and our responsibility as children of that faith.

Expulsion refers to humanity’s exile from Paradise, as told in the book of Genesis. Interestingly enough, the Scriptural passages for the day from both Romans 9 and 10 and Matthew chapter five, all point to our practicing the Gospel of Love as presented to us by Jesus Christ as I read the Gospel passage, listen carefully to what Christ is asking of us. The entire passage is from Matthew chapter five, verses 17 through 48 I will read an excerpt.

Jesus says, You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, you shall not murder, and whoever murders shall be liable to judgment. But I say to you that if you are angry with your brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment.

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift before the altar and go, First be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

You have heard that it was said you shall not commit adultery, but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

You have heard that it was said from ancient times, you shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord. But I say to you, do not swear at all.

You have heard that it was said An eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth. But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer.

You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say to you, love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

As I mentioned earlier, this is merely an excerpt from the entire Gospel passage, and I hope you will take some time to read the entire passage here, you understand that there is a law, but Jesus’s message is higher than that law. It is the fulfillment of that law. In other words, you know the law, but there is a higher standard, one that Jesus gives to us, one which he summarizes at the end of the passage by saying, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

So we are responsible for how our lives are lived. You see in the book of Genesis, in the story of the expulsion, the blame game was played, first by the woman, then by the man, then by the tempter. The woman made me do. It says the man to God who questions man’s disobedience, the serpent made me do. It says the woman, what Jesus tells us is, you me, we are all guilty of doing it. This week, we’ll take a closer look at that sin, what it means to us during the Lenten journey, how we deal with it, and what it means in our lives as Christians,